Suitcase or other article of luggage



Se`pt. l0, 1940. w. BRACKEN 2,214,118

SUITCASE OR OTHERRTICLE 0F LUGGAGE v Filed OCT.. 20, 1938 ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 10, 1940 Wallace Bracken, Rye, N. Y.

Application October 20, 1938, Serial No. 235,948

3 Claims.

My invention reiates to improvements in a suitcase or other article of luggage.

The main object of my invention is to provide the cover of a suitcase with means for detachably 5 and slidably connecting a number of hangers to said cover.

Another object is to provide a cover having a bracket which is shaped slidably to receive a number of hangers and to slidably support said hangers. These hangers are normally non-re movable from said bracket, but they can lbe removed by tilting the supports of the hangers in predetermined relation to said bracket. This prevents accidental removal of the hangers from the bracket, and likewise makes it possible to remove the hangers from the cover of the suitcase and the like, when this is desired, so that the hangers can be used independently of the cover of the suitcase.

Another object of the invention is to provide a very simple device for this purpose which has a minimum number of parts, which is simple and easy to operate, and which will not get out of order.

Other objects of the invention will be stated in the annexed description and drawing which illustrate a preferred embodiment thereof, it being understood that the above general statement of the objects of the invention is not intended to limit the invention.

Fig. l is a sectional view on the line I-I of Fig. 2.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation showing a hanger located in the supporting bracket.

Fig. 3 is a detail front elevation of the hanger,

partially in section.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. l, showing how the support for the hanger is tilted, in order to remove the hanger from the supporting bracket.

4:0 Fig. 5 is an elevation of the hanger on a greatly reduced scale.

The invention is shown as applied to the cover C of a conventional suitcase or the like. This cover C is provided with a lining L, part of which extends beyond the adjacent wall of the cover C, in the form of a flap. This ap can be used for covering the garments which are supported.

upon the hangers. Since this fla-p is of conventional construction, it is not illustrated in detail. A support or bracket Il! has a wall II thereof connected to a wall of the cover C, bly means of nails or other fastening members I2. This bracket I0 is provided with a lip I3 at its front. This lip i3 is provided with a notch, as shown in Fig. 2. The bracket I0 has wall-portions I5 which are opposed to the wall I I, and said wallportions I5 have their edges separated from each other so as to provide a slideway I5, as shown in Fig. 2. The bracket It can be made of metal or any other suitable material. The hanger si' can be made of a piece of 'wire W which is bent intothe shape as shown in Fig. 5. This wire W is covered by a sleeve H made of cloth or any other suitable soft material. The sleeve can be 1 applied to the wire while the wire is straight, and 161'; the wire and sleeve can then be bent into nal form. The hanger preferably has the shape shown in Fig. 5, so that it can support a coat and a pair of trousers. As shown in Fig. 5, the u L adjacent ends of the wire W and of the sleeve 15 H are separated from each other. rilhe hanger is provided with relatively turnable supporting means for holdingthe same suspended from the the slotted bottom wall of the bracket IIl. These supporting means consist of two identical mem- 20;. bers S. Each member S has a half-sleeve portion IQ, and a T-head l'i which is integral with said half-sleeve ill. Each half-sleeve I!! is provided with a slot 23. The adjacent separated ends of the hanger are provided with bushings having Shanks 22 of sleeve-like shape, which clamp the ends ci the fabric sleeve H to the ends of the wire 1N. These lbushings, 22 have enlarged heads 22a. When the two turna-ble supporting members are assembled, the heads 22a are located in the slots 23 of the half-sleeves of the supporting members, so that the assembled supporting members can turn freely relative to said bushings and relative to the hanger H. The half-sleeve members it* fit closely and turnably 35.5, upon the shanks 22 of the bushings, which are rigidly and immovably clamped to the ends of the hanger. rlhe opposed walls of the heads 22a substantially abut the adjacent walls of the openings 23, so that the assembled supporting 463 members are prevented from shifting laterally relative to said bushings. The supporting members S are connected to each other by suitable means which are located on opposite sides of the half-sleeve members I9. A screw Zia and a 45 suitable nut connect the necks I8 of the supporting members S to each other at one side of the half-sleeves I9, and a screw 2l and another nut connect the flanges .'ll of the members S to each other at the other side of said half-sleeves 50 I9. The screw ZI also serves turnably to support the usual hook 2li.

In order to insert the assembled supporting members S into the bracket II), the assembled supporting members S are turned relative to the 55 hanger, until the hook 24 is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the hanger, as shown in Fig. 4. 'Ihe T-heads II can then be inserted between the Wall-portions I5 and the lip I3, through the opening I4. Said assembled heads fit snugly but slidably between the Vertical Walls of bracket- I0 (referring to Fig. 2) and the assembled necks I8 may t snugly but slidably in slideway I6. As soon as the assembled T- heads I'I have been inserted sufficiently, the assembled supporting members S can then be turned relative to the hanger until the hook 24 is in the plane of the hanger, as shown in Fig. 2 and Fig. 5. The assembled necks I8 are then located in the slideway I6, and the assembled heads I'I slidably support the hanger on members I5. Any suitable number of hangers can thus be inserted into the bracket I0. Each hanger is non-removable from the bracket II) until its assembled supporting members S are turned relative to the hanger to the position shown in Fig. 4, so that the assembled T-heads I'I can pass through the opening I 4. When the hanger has been removed from the cover of the suitcase, the assembled supporting members S can be turned until the hook 24 is located above the hanger. The hanger can then be used in the usual manner, as the hook 24 can then support the hanger from a hook in a closet or the like.

As shown in Fig. 5, the hook 24 is located wholly within the walls of the hanger, when the device is suspended from the bracket I0.

While the invention is particularly useful in connection with the cover of a suitcase or the like, said invention can be used in any other location.

The improved device therefore clamps the ends of sleeve I-I to the core-wire W by means which also provide a bearing for the swivelled support.

The designation T-head in the claims generally covers heads which are wider' than the necks I8, and the claims are not limited to said specific shape. For convenience in defining the invention in the claims, it is assumed that member Ill is held with its top wall II horizontal and located above members I5.

Numerous changes and omissions can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. v

I claim:

1. In combination, hanger-supporting means having a top wall and a bottom wall and side walls, said top wall having a depending lip at its front end, the bottom of said lip being spaced from the bottom wall to provide an opening, said bottom wall having a longitudinal slot, a hanger having a core and a sleeve which covers said core, said core and sleeve having separated adjacent ends, bushings located at said ends and having bodies which clamp the ends of the sleeve to the ends of the core, said bushings having enlarged heads which are adjacent each other, a support swivelled on said hanger, said support comprising two supporting members, each supporting member having a half-sleeve which is intermediate a T-head and a hook-supporting member, each half-sleeve having a slot, said supporting members being connected to each other With said slots in registration, said enlarged heads being located in said slots, said half -sleeves being mounted turnably on the bodies of said bushings, and a hook connected to said hook-supporting members, the height of the assembled T- heads exceeding the height of said opening, the thickness of said assembled T-heads being less than the height of said opening, the assembled T-heads having necks which are slidably located in said slot.

2. In combination, a bracket having a top Wall and vertical walls and a bottom Wall, said bottom Wall having a longitudinal slot, said top Wall having a depending lip at its iront end, the bottom of said lip being spaced from the bottom Wall to provide an opening, a hanger having a support swivelled thereto, said support having bearing means turnably embracing a portion of the hanger, said means having a T-head projecting therefrom at one side, said T-head including a neck which is shaped to slide in said slot and a head which is shaped to slide in said bracket between its top and bottom walls, the height of said T- head exceeding the height of said opening, the thickness of said T-head being less than the height of said opening, so that the T-head can be inserted in and be removed from said bracket when the plane of said T-head is parallel to said top wall.

3. In combination, a bracket having a top wall and vertical walls and a bottom Wall, said bottom Wall having a longitudinal slot, said top wall having a depending lip at its front end, the bottom of Usaid lip being spaced from the bottom wall to provide an opening, a hanger having a support swivelled thereto, said support having bearing means turnably embracing a portion of the hanger, said means having a T -head projecting therefrom at one side, said T-head including a neck which is shaped to slide in said slot and a head which is shaped to slide in said bracket between its top and bottom walls, the height or" said T- head exceeding the height of said opening, the thickness of said T-head being less than the height of said opening, so that the T--head can be inserted in and be removed from said bracket when the plane of said T-head is parallel to said top wall, said bearing means also having hooksupporting vmeans projecting therefrom, and a hook connected to said hook-supporting means.

WALLACE BRACKEN. 

